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Safety of fighters a priority for promoters

White Collar Boxing events, organised by Vanda Promotions, have been around for almost a decade, and pits boxers with little or no experience against one another, after an intensive 12-week training programme. PHOTO: VANDA PROMOTIONS

"Last month, we introduced CT (computerised tomography) scans that are conducted on our fighters during fight week at our expense."

The safety protocols across different promoters are similar - full-body check-ups in the lead-up to the fight as well as just before the bout, submission of detailed medical reports before the fight, medical staff on standby and detailed medical evacuation procedures.

The same standards are applied to participants of the Ringstar Corporate Boxing Championships, which had been part of the previous two Roar of Singapore events here this year, according to Scott O'Farrell, chief executive officer of Ringstar Management.

Boxers in such events typically have less experience than the exponents on the main or undercards.

Of corporate boxers, O'Farrell told TNP yesterday: "Competitors are trained by professional coaches and come from boxing gyms in Singapore.

"No one on our show is allowed to compete unless the coach or their gym agrees that he or she is ready to do so.

"They are matched with an opponent with similar levels of experience and weight," added O'Farrell, whose organisation will hold the Roar of Singapore III event on Oct 20.

"Ringstar will continue in its uncompromising approach to boxer welfare and... require its amateurs and corporate boxers to submit full medical and serology reports, without which they will not be permitted to fight."

Vanda Promotions, another organiser of corporate boxing, selects a pool of about 22 boxers from hundreds of applicants, and puts the selected group through an intensive 12-week boxing programme, where they train thrice a week before they get into the ring for the actual bout.

"That's why we are biased towards safety - the fighters wear head guards and sparring gloves, the referees and judges have the authority to put a stop to mismatched fights and there is a 'disaster' plan, with detailed evacuation routes to the nearest hospitals."

He added that Vanda has been organising its White Collar Boxing events in Hong Kong and Singapore for almost 10 years without major incident, and will hold another such event in Singapore on Oct 28.

"If the public perception (is that combat sports are unsafe), there is little I can do to change that, apart from doing what we have been doing.

"But we will take every opportunity to improve the safety of our boxers, and the enjoyment of the event."